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1252163
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12/4/74 - Rockefeller Public Service Awards
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Source metadata
id
1252163
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
12/4/74 - Rockefeller Public Service Awards
citationUrl
collections
President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Speeches, addresses, etc.
Medals
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1252163
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4
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1974-12-04
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12
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1974
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4
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1974-12-04
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12
year
1974
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472b7d2f8a48536d
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The original documents are located in Box 4, folder "12/4/74 - Rockefeller Public Service
Awards" of the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R.
Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 4 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
AND president HAS X
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS FOR
ROCKEFELLER PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1974
-1-
I AM VERY PLEASED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AWARDS LUNCHEON
AND TO JOIN IN YOUR SALUTE TO FIVE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANTS.
FOR AS LONG AS THERE. HAS BEEN GOVERNMENT AMONG MEN, IT
HAS BEEN FASHIONABLE TO ATTACK BUREAUCRACY AND BUREAUCRATS --
SOMETIMES FOR GOOD AND SUFFICIENT REASON.
AND I HAVE TO
CONFESS THAT, IN OVER 25 YEARS ON CAPITOL HILL, I HAVE ON OCCASION
JOINED IN THE FRAY WHEN I THOUGHT THE ISSUES AND THE FACTS CALLED
FOR IT.
Jh Pres. Brwen Van divide dr III - wordow Proviction, whom Rehool
Ruth
-2-
BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT IT IS CAREER PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO
KEEP THE VITAL, DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT MOVING, YEAR
AFTER YEAR -- A VAST AND LOYAL ARMY OF GOOD PEOPLE, DOING GOOD
WORK FOR THEIR COUNTRY.
SOMETIMES THE PACE IS A LITTLE TOO SLOW FOR MY TASTE.
BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE COMPLEXITY AND SENSITIVITY OF MODERN
GOVERNMENT, THE QUESTION MAY NOT BE "WHY DOES GOVERNMENT MOVE so
SLOWLY," BUT, RATHER, "HOW DOES GOVERNMENT MANAGE TO MOVE AT
ALL?"
-3-
COMMENTING ON PUBLIC APATHY, AND ITS EFFECT ON
GOVERNMENT, ADLAI STEVENSON ONCE JOKED THAT OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS
SERVE US RIGHT.
TODAY WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR FIVE PUBLIC
SERVANTS WHO HAVE DONE MORE THAN JUST SERVE US RIGHT -- THEY HAVE
SERVED US WITH DISTINCTION.
EACH ONE, IN HIS OWN WAY, HAS MADE AN IMPORTANT,
LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO OUR GOVERNMENT, AND OUR FREE WAY OF LIFE.
-4-
THE FIELDS THESE MEN REPRESENT ARE VARIED -- AERONAUTICS,
SOCIAL WELFARE, AND SEVERAL PHASES OF THE ECONOMY -- BUT THE
ABILITY AND DEDICATION WHICH EACH HAS BROUGHT TO HIS WORK IS THE
SAME.
THEY REPRESENT THE BEST IN A LONG TRADITION OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, AND THE UNSUNG MILLIONS OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK
IN GOVERNMENT TODAY.
-5-
ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
YOUR EXAMPLE IS ALREADY AN INSPIRATION
TO YOUR FELLOW WORKERS.
1. HOPE THIS CEREMONY TODAY WILL ALSO
MAKE IT AN INSPIRATION TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE YOU SERVE.
END